People may have difficulty accessing medications for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the wake of arrests of executives of a company that prescribes the drugs, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
CDC officials said they’re not sure what kind of effect the charges will have on patients, but warned they could disrupt access to ADHD medications. “A disruption involving this large telehealth company could impact as many as 30,000 to 50,000 patients ages 18 years and older across all 50 U.S.
states,” the public health agency added. The potential disruption comes amid an ongoing shortage of Adderall and several other drugs commonly prescribed to treat ADHD. People who lose access to prescription medications might be tempted to turn to illegal sources and could end up overdosing because the black market is rife with counterfeit pills, the CDC warned.
Some of the pills are spiked with fentanyl and other substances that can lead to death. “Individuals struggling to access prescription stimulant medications are urged to avoid using medication obtained from anyone other than a licensed clinician and licensed pharmacy,” the CDC stated. ADHD is a mental disorder that typically manifests with trouble paying attention, hyperactivity, and difficulty controlling impulses.
From 2020 to 2022, 11.3 percent of children in the United States were diagnosed with ADHD. Boys were much more likely to be diagnosed with the condition.
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